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Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
 The Recovery Act [PDF] signed into law by President Obama on
February 17, 2009 includes measures to modernize our nation's
infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax
relief, and protect those in greatest need.
"The President has made it clear that every taxpayer dollar spent on our economic recovery must be subject to unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability. He has identified five crucial objectives for Federal agencies, to ensure that:
- Recovery funds are awarded and distributed in a prompt, fair, and reasonable manner;
- The recipients and uses of all recovery funds are transparent to the public, and that the public benefits of these funds are reported clearly, accurately, and in a timely manner;
- Recovery funds are used for authorized purposes and every step is taken to prevent instances of fraud, waste, error, and abuse;
- Projects funded under the recovery legislation avoid unnecessary delays and cost overruns; and,
- Programs meet specific goals and targets, and contribute to improved performance on broad economic indicators.
All Federal agencies and departments receiving Recovery Act funds must establish rigorous internal controls, oversight mechanisms, and other approaches to meet the accountability objectives of the bill." – www.recovery.gov
Athens-Clarke County Unified Government will take all necessary steps to ensure accountability and transparency. This Web page is an example of our commitment.
history of local recovery act responses
- The U.S. Conference of Mayors requested that local governments submit "shovel-ready" (90 days) infrastructure projects. This survey helped to assure the U.S. Congress that there was a sufficient number of projects to justify spending billions of dollars to create and retain jobs and to stimulate the economy. The Unified Government submitted 57 projects.
- President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on February 17, 2009.
- ARRA provides $787.2 billion ($575.3 billion – spending; $211.9 billion – tax cuts) in five broad categories (key priorities): Energy and Environment; Infrastructure; Poverty, Work, and Opportunity; Crime and Public Safety; and Arts and Tourism. There are approximately 75 separate funding programs. However, the Unified Government will not benefit from all of these programs (e.g., Amtrak, Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration, etc).
- Funding allocations will be made through existing funding sources based on the following methods:
- Pre-established formulas to localities
- Pre-established formulas to states
- Competitive discretionary grant programs
- Loans and loan guarantees
- In February 2009, the Mayor assigned to the Government Operations Committee (GOC) the task of preparing a list of recommended projects to submit for ARRA funding.
- The GOC met on March 17, 2009 to hear a staff presentation on ARRA. Chairman Girtz requested that Commissioners send him a list of their suggested projects.
- On April 7, the Mayor and Commission took the following actions:
- Approved the project list
- Affirmed staff’s submittal of the Sub-Watershed Water Quality Infrastructure Projects and the Fixed Automated Meter Reading Program to GEFA;
- Authorized the Manager to submit ARRA funding applications as the opportunities become available and in accordance with submission guidelines; and
- Authorized the Mayor to sign all ARRA-related documents and resolutions.
- The following departments submitted the first quarter ARRA reports which were due by October 10: Police – Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant (JAG); HED - (Community Development Block Grant/Recovery and Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP); and Central Services through UGA (Diesel Emissions and Reduction Act). Only those departments which had federal or state contracts that were executed prior to September 30 were required to report.
- As of September 30, ACCUG had spent $26,166.
local recovery act allocations received
Click on the links to see details about each local project.
- Byrne /Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) (Federal Formula Allocation) – $222,230
To purchase 44 mobile, ruggedized, in-car laptop units
- Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund - $10 million
Loan & grant for four sewer inceptor projects
- Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund - GEFA Green Projects - $342,350
Water quality additions to previously approved stormwater projects.
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - $395,575
Affordable housing and economic development
- Diesel Emissions Reduction Act - $466,400
To retrofit 88 Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Vehicles
- Emergency Shelter Grant/Homelessness Prevention Funds - $604,969
Homeless prevention and rapid re-housing
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program - $1,137,100
Strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency.
- Transit Formula Grants – $1,642,889
Transit will accelerate its bus replacement program by purchasing four (4) replacement transit buses.
- Workforce Development Investment Act - ~$214,917 - Completed
Handled by the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission to provide summer work experiences for
approximately 800 youth, a 400% increase over 2008. Although not coordinated by the Unified Government, numerous departments, divisions, and facilities hosted youth for summer work.
potential local recovery act funding sources and projects
The information below describes other potential ARRA funding sources and projects. Click on links to find out more details on specific Athens-Clarke County projects.
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) - $5,900,000
Application submitted on July 10, 2009 to help rebuild Stations #2 & #6. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the first round of awards on October 2. The department awarded 96 grants totaling $165 million to fire departments, but ACC did not receive funding in the first round. No information is available on when the second round of funding will be announced.
- Bonds
- Build America Bonds (BABs)
- Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds (BAB Subset)
- Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (BABs Subset)
- Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs)
- Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
The Governor's Office has recommended to the U.S Department of Commerce a series of projects for consideration in first round funding, including a $478,852 project from the Athens Regional Library System for six public access computer labs in low‐income, underserved areas in NE Georgia to be used for training. The recommendation came from an evaluation of projects by a committee with members from OneGeorgia Authority,
Georgia Technology Authority,
Board of Regents,
Department of Community Health,
Department of Economic Development, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, OneGeorgia Authority, CIFAL Atlanta, and the Department of Community Affairs.
A larger regional broadband initiative was not recommended for funding, although recommendations are not binding and the initiative is planned for resubmittal for later ARRA funding rounds. However, on December 1, 2009, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor & Commission approved a resolution for Athens-Clarke County to join the Joint Development Authority of Northeast Georgia with Madison, Oglethorpe, Elbert, and Jackson Counties. By doing so, the larger broadband initiative is eligible for state BRIDGE funding by the OneGeorgia Authority.
- Byrne/Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) (Federal Competitive)
Staff submitted an application that requested funding for the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System (ICJIS) and associated staff (Category I); Neighborhood Probation and Parole Officers (Category II); laptops for Police and Sheriff vehicles (Category IV); and Problem-Solving Courts staff (Category VII). The Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) notified ACCUG that Category I and Category II proposals did not receive funding. Decisions on Category IV and VII are pending.
- Byrne / Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) (Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee Formula Allocation) - $372,801
An application is due on or before September 1, 2009 for the Western Judicial Circuit that includes Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. Plans are to apply for funding for an Integrated Criminal Justice Information Sharing System (ICJIS).
- Department of Justice (DOJ) for the COPS Hiring Recovery Program (CHRP)
The COPS Office announced funding decisions on July 28. It did not fund the ACCPD proposal. The COPS Office received an overwhelming response to this CHRP grant application solicitation. Ultimately, only 1,046 of the 7,272 CHRP requests received funding. The ACC application will remain under a "pending" status in the COPS Office, which means that the proposal is still under consideration. Once the COPS Office receives its Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations, a determination will be made whether additional hiring funds will be available and how to proceed with all pending requests.
- STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) - $57,392
The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) funds will provide for the salary of one (1) Detective position in the Family Protection and Sexual Assault Section of the Centralized Criminal Investigations Division. This position is dedicated to the investigation of cases involving violence against women. The CJCC administrator has given verbal confirmation that this grant is approved for funding in January of 2010, but the written implementation authorization has not been received.
- Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)
The Unified Government submitted an application that requested a total of $19.9 million for the following projects: SR 10 Loop Connector Interchange; Mitchell Bridge Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements; College Station Road Bicycle Lanes; and Rails-to-Trails.
projects NOT RECEIVING recovery act funding
- Discretionary Grants for Airport Improvement (AIP)
The M&C approved the concept for the Runway 9/27 Extension Project – Phase I on July 7. ARRA provides $1.1 billion for airport improvements throughout the United States. Airports qualify for stimulus funding based on the same FAA process used for yearly FAA funding competitions. The FAA approved the Athens Airport runway extension project for funding and added it to the list for possible discretionary funding. Five airports in southern Georgia received ARRA funding. Athens-Ben Epps Airport did not. However, the FAA is providing $560,434 in discretionary funding and GDOT is providing a 2.5% match of $14,011 for the design of the runway extension project.
- LARP Road Resurfacing Assistance
The Georgia Department of Transportation has transferred two (2) Unified Government previously requested LARP assisted resurfacing road projects into the statewide resurfacing project that will be let and managed by GDOT. Specifically, Old Elberton Road between Voyles Road to the Madison County line; Smokey Road between Nowhere Road and Helican Springs Road; and Main Street (Winterville) between Athens Road and the Oglethorpe County Line. The Unified Government has certified that these are currently public-maintained streets with rights-of-way that are under ACC ownership. GDOT's contractor will complete all of the necessary preventative maintenance activities and resurfacing work at no cost to the Unified Government. As a result, ACCUG will not receive any of these stimulus funds. The total estimated value of this work is $464,000. GDOT expects that the work will be done in the spring 2010.
- Surface Transportation Program (STP) Local Area Funding
The Georgia Department of Transportation determined that the Fowler Mill Bridge Project was ineligible for stimulus funding because this project did not receive as high a priority score as other requests. On October 6, the Mayor & Commission approved the concept plan and authorized staff to complete the project construction plans and proceed to the bid and award phase using a combination of SPLOST 2005 and General Fund dollars. At the end of October, staff learned that GDOT will provide $150,000 from another funding source for this project.
other resources
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